The vigil was held to protest the district’s plan to outsource custodial services and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) repairs, the article stated.

According to the article, the district is looking at a potential loss of nearly 1,100 employees, including a large number of teaching positions being cut.

One company bidding for the contract is ARAMARK, a company which contracted with the district back in 2003, and had their contract ripped up for poor service, the article noted.

"The custodial staff goes far above and beyond just cleaning the schools. They mentor these kids. They find things for them. They''re just there for them, and they take a real interest in these kids," said Alliance-AFT President Rena Honea.

A contract with a private company, she says, would replace those workers with just somebody off the street, out to make a dollar, who doesn''t have their best interests at heart.